Donald faces Ryder Cup dilemma

Luke Donald, one of the rising stars of European golf, could be about to make himself ineligible for this year’s Ryder Cup.

Donald, Jesper Parnevik and other US Tour-based Europeans have been asked by the European Tour to stipulate in the next few weeks which 11 tour events they intend to play in this season to remain members of the circuit.

Like Parnevik, Donald appeared in only four last season and if they decide not to commit to 11 they will not be considered for the Ryder Cup – even as wild cards.

The 26-year-old from High Wycombe, who tees off tomorrow in the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta, said: “It’s a tricky one for me.

“There’s no doubt I would love to play in the Ryder Cup, but I’ve made my home in the States now and I don’t think it would make sense to uproot myself and return to Europe just so that I can play the 11.”

Donald, who in February lost a play-off to John Daly for the Buick Invitational, has failed to qualify for next week’s Masters, which counts for both circuits.

He is also not currently exempt for the other three majors this season or for the World Golf Championships either, even though he stands 30th on the US money list.

Parnevik is even higher at 27th after a return a form and, of course, is a member of the last three Ryder Cup teams.

But his chances of a fourth cap have already suffered because his failure to play 11 events last season meant he did not collect any qualifying points until the start of this season.

He has had three recent top-seven finishes and stands 17th on the world points list – Donald is 16th – but would have been 11th had he been earning points since the commencement of qualifying last September.

Now he faces the same dilemma as Donald. They both, of course, could stipulate 11 events to remain eligible for the match with the Americans and then not play them, but that runs the risk of a two-year suspension from the European Tour.

The same applies to all US Tour-based Europeans and Parnevik’s fellow Swede Carl Pettersson has already indicated he will probably resign and rule himself out of the Ryder Cup.

“We’ve given everybody concerned up to the Volvo PGA Championship at the end of next month to stipulate their 11 events,” said Keith Waters, director of international policy for the European Tour.

“You’ve always had to be a member of the European Tour to play the Ryder Cup, but we felt it important to re-iterate that when qualifying started this time.

“It does apply to wild cards as well and what we’ve tried to do is give everyone as much time as we can to indicate their intentions.”